SMS LANGUAGE: DIFFERENCES IN THE USE OF TEXT MESSAGING AND TEXTISMS

Abstract

This study analyzed the use of text messaging and textisms of Grade 12 students of Baliuag University. Specifically, it describes their demographic profiles including the gender and academic strands, how often they use text messaging and textisms, and what features of textisms they are using, and the significant differences among the demographic profile, text messaging and textisms. This is a quantitative study that made use of the descriptive-inferential design. It was conducted at Baliuag University with 180 respondents who were from the different strands (STEM, ABM, HUMSS, and GA). Data were gathered using a modified-Likert questionnaire. Findings revealed that female Grade 12 students tend to send text messages and use textisms more often than male. For the academic strands, HUMSS more often use text messaging than the other three strands but these four strands use textistms similarly. Moreover, it was found that there is a significant difference between the male and female in the use of text messaging and textisms. Also, there was a significant difference among academic strands in the use of text messaging, but there is no significant difference in terms of textisms usage.

Keywords: text messaging, textisms, profiles